What are Communities of Practice?

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better. Communities of Practice (CoPs) provide an opportunity to create a learning community around an area of interest or practice, to share and develop practice and build personal and professional knowledge and expertise.

A CoP creates a defined 'space' to share knowledge about a specific area of interest or practice, which enables members to address the practical problems encountered in that practice. Other activities include:

These activities have tended to be sidelined as workplace demands increasingly impinge on academic and professional staff time, hence the need for CoPs.

Communities of Practice at USQ

From small beginnings in 2006, the number of USQ communities of practice (CoPs) has grown to include over twenty vibrant communities.